Connecticut addresses children's needs in disasters

Lawmakers in Connecticut recently passed legislation to help ensure the safety of children during a natural disaster or terrorist attack; on Tuesday, Connecticut’s House of Representatives approved a bill that would require the state to include the well-being of children in its emergency response plans; the bill passed 125 to 1 on Tuesday; under the law, the Commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is required to file annual reports that address the health needs of children during a biological attack or other incidents; the bill is currently on its way to Governor Dannel P. Malloy who is expected to sign it into law

Lawmakers in Connecticut recently passed legislation to help ensure the safety of children during a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

On Tuesday, Connecticut’s House of Representatives approved a bill that would require the state to include the well-being of children in its emergency response plans.

The bill passed 125 to 1 on Tuesday.

Under the law, the Commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is required to file annual reports that address the health needs of children during a biological attack or other incidents.

Representative Diana Urban, the chairwoman of the Select House Committee on Children, said that communities are not currently prepared to care for children during disasters. As evidence she pointed to the absence of plans to reunite children separated from their families in emergencies.

Representative Vincent Candelora, who was the only one to vote against the bill, said he opposed the law because it made details that should remain confidential available through freedom of information requests.

The bill is currently on its way to Governor Dannel P. Malloy who is expected to sign it into law.